Adjustable cuff for garments



-- March 3, 1942; L I T 2,274,980

ADJUSTABLE CUFF FOR GARMENTS Filed Mafch 8, 1941 INVENTOR I I I Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE CUFF FOR GARMENTS Irving Geist, New York, N. Y. Application March 8', 1941, Serial No. 382,357

4 Claims.

My invention relates to an adjustable cuff and more particularly my invention relates to a garment such as a blouse, shirt, or the like, particularly adapted for womens wear, which garment has a cuff and lower forearm area which are so formed that the length of the cuff and accordingly the length of the sleeve may be adjusted as desired, the cuff being of the folded over type with only the outer fold thereof being secured together by cuff buttons.

In the manufacture of womens blouses or shirts, it is necessary to manufacture a large number of body sizes. Although it would be desirable to make the shirts also with different sleeve lengths, this would materially increase the costs of manufacture and distribution so that standard sleeve lengths are made on the different body sizes of the shirts or blouses.

Inasmuch as women's arms vary materially in length with similar body sizes, it is usually necessary to alter the sleeve lengths according to the individual customer. This alteration involves not only added cost to the customer but also the alterations, if not carried out by a highly skilled dressmaker, may destroy the artistic line of the sleeve and particularly the forearm area sothat the very skillful pattern which has been formed in the original manufacture of the garment is impaired or altered.

In addition to the difficulties involved in such alterations, women often find it desirable to employ different sleeve lengths at different times according to the particular use of the shirt or blouse being made and also when an overgarment is worn therewith. For example, when an outer suit coat is worn with the blouse, it is desirable to have the cuffs protrude slightly beyond the sleeves of the coat. However, when the shirt or blouse is being worn without such coat, it is desirable that the sleeves be slightly shorter both for artistic and utilitarian purposes.

A further problem involved is strictly utilitarian and devolves upon the fact that for many Purposes such as for ofiice work, it is desirable that the sleeve be worn extraordinarily short so that they will not be subject to too much wear or be easily soiled as would be the case if they were ordinary sleeve length and, in addition, cuffs worn at ordinary length might interfere with the free use of the hands.

For such purposes it is customary for the wearer to pull the sleeves up on the forearm, but because there is no means of retention of the sleeves in that position, the sleeves customarily Further, because of the fact that the sleeve is not designed for such foreshortening, the artistic effect of the sleeve is destroyed.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned problems of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cuff which is adjustable in length.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cuff that may be adjusted to normal, long or short lengths with respect to the wearers arm length.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sleeve cuff that may be worn high upon the forearm while still retaining its artistic configuration and utilitarian functions.

These objects are accomplished by providing a lower forearm sleeve area of enlarged cross sectional area, which sleeve is affixed as by shirring to a cuff of novel structure. The cuff is so formed as to taper sharply outwardly along its length so that the lower extremity of th cuif is of materially greater width than that upper portion of the cuff which is aflixed to the lower portion of the sleeve.

In the lower portion of the cuff are positioned button holes for the reception of cuff buttons and in lieu of the four button holes previously found in the cuffs of the prior art, I form the above mentioned two button holes so that the adjustment, which will be explained more fully hereinafter, may be effected.

The further particular details of carrying out the present invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the drawing, a specific description of which here follows.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of a shirt having cuffs formed according to my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective showing the details of the construction of the cuff of my invention.

Figure 3 is a side View showing an adjustment of the cuff to an extremely short position on the arm.

Figure 4 is a side view showing the cuff of my invention adjusted to average length on the arm.

Figure 5 is a side view showing the cuff of my invention adjusted to relatively long position on the arm.

Figure 6 is a perspective end view of the cut of my invention.

Referring now more specifically to the draw ing, in Figure 1 I show a shirt generally denoted as l having cuffs H and I2 affixed to sleeves I3 and I4. Cuff buttons l6 and l I secure the cufis in the desired position.

In Figure 2, where a more detailed showing of the cuff of my invention is set forth, it will be noted that the sleev I4 is of relatively large diameter and although the sleeve is shirr-ed as at l9 at the point of attachment to the cuff l2, the attachment being effected by the lines of stitching 26 and 2|, shown in dotted line, the dimension of the sleeve at this area of attachment is relatively large so that it is adapted to fit over the lower forearm of the wearer.

The cuff I2 is so cut at the free edges 23 and 24 thereof so as to provide a very marked tap-er extending down and out to the sharply outward: ly tapered end portions 26 and 21. The button holes 28 and 29 are provided so that the cuff buttons I! may be fixed therein to secure the cuff in the desired position. An arcuate shaped placket portion 3| is formed above the lines of stitching 26 and 2!. The aforesaid arcuat shaping forms a continuation of the curved taper portions of the free edges 23 and 24 of the cuff l2. The tapered shaping of said cuff and the arcuate contour of the placket portion aforesaid enables the free up and down placement of the cuif and the sleeve portion adjacent thereto. The combined shaping of the cuff and lower portion of the sleeve as stated is in harmonious conformity with the shape of the forearm of the wearer. A male snap fastener 36 is fixed to said arcuate shaped placket portion 3| to coact with a female snap fastener 30 positioned on the other end of said placket portion, but not her-e shown.

By referring now to Figure 3, the functional effect of the structure above described will be more clearly understood. When an extremely short cuif or sleeve length is desired, the cuff 24 is folded back over the lower sleeve portion l4 and the cuif button I! is inserted through the button holes 28 and 29 to fix the cuff in that position. I

It will be noted that because of the outward taper of the lower portion of the culf and particularly the lower portion 26 and 21 thereof, the button holes 28 and 29 extend out beyond the terminus of the sleeve portion l4 so that the cuff ends 26 and 21 may be fixed together.

From the standpoint of the external appearance, sleeve and cuff are artistically unimpaired, the only difference between the use of the cuff in this particular manner and that in other lengths lying in the length of the cuff folded over. That is, there is no such bunchiness or folding as might impair the appearance of thecuif and sleeve.

In Figure 4 I have shown the cuff 24 folded to a medium or average length in which the cuff 24 is folded upon itself so that the end portion of the cuff is substantially even with that portion of the cuff affixed to the lower end of the sleeve. The button holes 28 and 29 in this position still extend beyond the width of the upper cuff portion because of the marked taper of the cuff 24. This results in the lower tapered portions 26 and 21 of the cuff 24 being positioned upon folding beyond the width of the upper cuif portion of the cuff 24. The cuff button I! when fixed in the button holes 28 and 29 properly holds the cuff in position.

Referring now to Figure I have shown a cuff adjustment in which the culf length and accordingly the sleeve length is relatively long. In this position the cuff 24 is folded back upon itself, but as is shown, only a lesser portion of the cuff 24 is folded back than in the position shown in Figure 4.

The taper of the lower cuff portion 26 and 21 is such that the button holes 28 and 29 may be held together by the cuif button I! without bunching or impairing the cuif appearance.

In Figure 6 which is a detailed end view of the culf it will be noted that the cuff Z4 i shown as one piece folded upon itself and the male snap fastener 36 is secured to the female snap fastener 4|] thereby closing the arcuate placket portion 3|.

Different positions of the cuffs namely as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 do not affect the general line of the culf and sleeve and the construction of my cuff and lower sleeve area is such that there is no impairment of the artistic design of that portion of the garment by reason of the Variety of cuff lengths possible.

It should be noted from a consideration of the drawing that an arc is described beginning at the lower outward free edges of the cuff 24, the are continuing inwardly to that end of the cuff aflixed to the sleeve and then extending outwardly again at the lower portion of the sleeve.

In other words, the arc comprises both the loweredges of the sleeve portion and the cuff.

By the construction thus set forth and particularly the tapered free edges of the cuffs terminating in a sharp outward taper of the lower free portions of the cuff namely 26 and 21, I achieve the new and unexpected results of adjustable sleeve lengths above set forth, While maintaining the original artistic design of the sleeve and cuff.

The necessity for deleterious and expensive alteration is thus obviated and increased. utility of adjustable cuff lengths is afforded the wearer.

The cuff 24. comprises. a blank with two free side edges and a free end edge, one end edge being secured to the bottom of the sleeve. The free side edges of the cuff taper downwardly and outwardly from about that point where the cuff joins the sleeve and also the free end edge may principles of my invention here set forth.

It is to be understood that certain changes .in design may be made by those skilled in the art and that the specific description of my invention.

above set forth is by way of example only. I intend therefore. to be limited not by the detailed illustration of my invention as here given, but only by the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

1. In combination, a sleeve. and a cuif'said cufihaving two free side portions, said cuff being.

secured to said sleeve at one end thereof, both .of

the two free edges of said cuff having a tapered,

contour downward and outwardly-from the point of securement of said culf to said sleeve, said cuff having a free edge terminating at said two freev end portions, a buttonhole in each of the two corner areas where the tapered sides meet the end of the cuff, said cuff being adjustable to different lengthfiby'f'olding over upon itself, said sleeve being ofrelatively large diameter at the point of securement of the sleeve to the cuff, the line embracing the free edge of the cuff and the lower sleeve portion comprising an arcuate contour.

2. In combination, a sleeve and a cuff, said cuff having two free end portions, said cuff being secured to said sleeve at one side thereof, both of the two free ends of said cuff tapered downwardly and outwardly from the point of securement of said cuff to said sleeve, said cufi having a free edge terminating at said two free end portions and one buttonhole in each of the two corner areas where the tapered sides meet the end of the cuff, said sleeve having an arcuate shaped placket portion, said placket portion forming a curvilinear continuation of said cuff edges, said cuff being adjustable to different lengths by folding over upon itself, and cuff buttons secured through the buttonholes aforesaid.

3. In combination, a sleeve and a cuff, said cuff having two free end portions, said cuff being secured to said sleeve at one end thereof, both of the two free sides of said cuff having a curved taper downwardly and outwardly from the point of securement of said cufl to said sleeve, said cuif having a free edge terminating at said two free side portions, one buttonhole in each of the two corner areas where the curved tapered sides meet the end of the cuff, said cuff being adjustable to different lengths by folding over upon itself, the folded over lower portion of the cuff extending beyond the upper portion of the cuff by reason of the curved tapered sides thereof so that a cuff button can be secured through the buttonholes without bunching the cuff; and an arcuate shaped placket portion in said sleeve, said placket portion forming a curvilinear continuation of said cuff edges.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3, and fastener means on said placket portion whereby the opposite free edges thereof may be joined.

IRVING GEIST. 

